US3748443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel sensing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-01
•
Granted: 1973-07-24
•
Expires: 1991-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A treadle consisting of a set of upper contacts electrically separated from a set of lower contacts and placed in staggered arrangement with the lower set. The lower set has a fixed impedance between each contact. As a wheel crosses the treadle, the upper contacts beneath the wheel short out the lower contacts staggered thereunder, thereby reducing the total impedance. A control system detects the reduced impedance value and determines the wheel width. Pulse counting circuitry integral with the control system counts the wheel axles and determines the class of vehicle. Direction sensing and car counting may also be included with the treadle and control system. The weight class of the vehicles, as well as the approximate speed, can also be determined from the information detected.
Inventors
- 👤 S Kroll
- 👤 M Platzman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:22
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A wheel sensing apparatus comprising: a. a resilient member; b. a plurality of movable contact means spaced from each other and integral with said member; c. a plurality of fixed contact means spaced from each other and spaced from said plurality of movable contact means, said movable contact means being electrically isolated from said fixed contact means and each of said movable contacts being capable of engaging a unique combination of at least two of said fixed contact means different from each combination from the other movable contacts; d. a plurality of impedance means each electrically coupled between adjacent ones of said fixed contact means; e. first and second terminal means connected, respectively, to the first and last fixed contact means; f. energizing means connected to said terminals; and g. readout means connected to said terminals and responsive to a change in impedance between said terminals, whereby as a wheel passes over said resilient member, said movable contact means affected by said wheel, engage the unique combination of fixed contact means associated therewith and effectively short out the impedances connected to said last mentioned fixed contact means thereby changing the impedance value between said terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A wheel sensing apparatus comprising: a. a resilient member; b. a plurality of movable contact means spaced from each other and integral with said member; c. a plurality of fixed contact means spaced from each other and spaced from said plurality of movable contact means, said movable contact means being electrically isolated from said fixed contact means and each of said movable contacts being capable of engaging a unique combination of at least two of said fixed contact means different from each combination from the other movable contacts; d. a plurality of impedance means each electrically coupled between adjacent ones of said fixed contact means; e. first and second terminal means connected, respectively, to the first and last fixed contact means; f. energizing means connected to said terminals; and g. readout means connected to said terminals and responsive to a change in impedance between said terminals, whereby as a wheel passes over said resilient member, said movable contact means affected by said wheel, engage the unique combination of fixed contact means associated therewith and effectively short out the impedances connected to said last mentioned fixed contact means thereby changing the impedance value between said terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising third and fourth contact means spaced from each other and transverse to the movement of the wheel, said third and fourth contact means located integral with said member and capable of engaging at least one of said fixed contact means when affected by said wheel, third and fourth terminals coupled repsectively to said thirdand fourth contact means, and recognition means coupled to said third and fourth term-inals capable of identifying the sequence through which the wheel affects the third and fourth contact means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said readout means includes forward and reverse counting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said recognition means in response to one sequence produces a pulse causing said forward counting means to count and in response to the other sequence, procudes a pulse causing said reverse counting means to count down.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said third and fourth contact means extend across the full length of said resilient member and said movable and fixed contact means are spaced along said length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 and further comprising coincidence means receiving the impedance value and the sequence as inputs thereto and providing an output to said readout means only when both inputs occur.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 and further comprising axle counting means for counting each of said sequences.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 7 and further comprising vehicle detection means capable of detecting the presence of e vehicle in the vicinity of said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said vehicle detection means resets said axle counting means each time a vehicle passes out of said vicinity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said vehicle detection means comprises photoelectric devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of fixed contact means are located beneath said plurality of movable contact means in a staggered arrangement with them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said fixed and movable contact means are both embedded within said member and wherein an air gap separates the fixed and movable contacts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said fixed and movable contact means are constructed of steel and said member is constructed of rubber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 13 further including a metal frame beneath said member and coupled to it.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of movable contact means and said plurality of fixed contact means are placed diagonally to said member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of impedance means comprise a plurality of identical resistors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said movable contact means are electrical switches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said fixed and movable contact means are constructed from conducting material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said readout means further includes display means for recording the impedance values as strokes on a moving tape wherein the length of said strokes is a measure of the width of the tires, the spacing between said strokes is a measure of the speed of the vehicle and the number of strokes is a count of the number of axles on the vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
170 words
A wheel sensing apparatus for vehicles crossing a treadle, including in combination, means for detecting the presence of a vehicle in the vicinity of the treadle; means for detecting the number of axles on the vehicle crossing the treadle; means having only 2 wires extending externally therefrom for detecting the width of the tires crossing the treadle; and means for detecting the direction of crossing, wherein said treadle comprises: a. a resilient member; b. a plurality of movable contact means spaced from each other and integral with said member; c. a plurality of fixed contact means spaced from each other and spaced from said plurality of movable contact means, said movable contact means being electrically isolated from said fixed contact means and each of said movable contacts being capable of engaging a unique combination of at least two of said fixed contact means different from each combination from the other movable contacts; and d. a plurality of impedance means each electrically coupled between adjacent ones of said fixed contact means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
170 words
A wheel sensing apparatus for vehicles crossing a treadle, including in combination, means for detecting the presence of a vehicle in the vicinity of the treadle; means for detecting the number of axles on the vehicle crossing the treadle; means having only 2 wires extending externally therefrom for detecting the width of the tires crossing the treadle; and means for detecting the direction of crossing, wherein said treadle comprises: a. a resilient member; b. a plurality of movable contact means spaced from each other and integral with said member; c. a plurality of fixed contact means spaced from each other and spaced from said plurality of movable contact means, said movable contact means being electrically isolated from said fixed contact means and each of said movable contacts being capable of engaging a unique combination of at least two of said fixed contact means different from each combination from the other movable contacts; and d. a plurality of impedance means each electrically coupled between adjacent ones of said fixed contact means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3057422A
Cited
US3126522A
Cited
US2617197A
Cited
US2992776A
Cited
US3398397A
Cited
US3437973A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |